This is Erica Follen and welcome to today's meditation honoring winter.
The winter season is a time when we are invited to slow down.
It's a time of rest,
A time to receive,
An incubation period if you will,
So that in the spring we have the energy to bloom again.
So let's find a comfortable seat however that looks for you today.
Taking a few breaths,
Allowing your body to ease with each breath,
And allowing yourself to adjust your position,
Your seat,
At any time to lean more towards comfort.
And if you happen to be near a window,
Take a little gaze at the winter landscape however it looks in your area.
And if you're not near a window,
Simply recall in your mind's eye your favorite winter landscape.
And let's take a few moments,
A few breaths here,
To recognize the beauty of it.
The beauty of winter and what it shows us,
What it teaches us.
The trees bare of their leaves,
Almost as if showing us their vulnerable selves.
The grass with its brown hues,
Not showing off but just lying dormant for a bit,
Knowing,
Trusting that it will shine green once again soon enough.
And maybe in your winter landscape there's even some beautiful snow,
Giving you a reminder of maybe childhood play,
Pleasure,
Fun even.
Taking comfort and ease in all of the subtle winter blessings.
Taking a few breaths here,
Seeing the beauty of rest that is oftentimes so unseen,
Unnoticed in winter.
But it's there when we take a moment to pause and see it.
And if you were gazing outside,
Start to soften that gaze or close your eyes.
And together let's take a long,
Slow,
Deep breath in and gently let that go.
And let's honor this season by deepening this practice with a mantra for winter.
Rest.
Allow.
Receive.
We'll repeat this mantra to ourselves and sit in silence for a moment as we do.
It's natural for your mind to wander,
So if you find yourself drifting to thoughts,
Gently bring your awareness back to the mantra.
Rest.
Allow.
Receive.
When you hear the sound of my voice again,
Sit gently with your eyes closed.
Rest.
Allow.
Receive.
And begin.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Rest.
Allow.
Receive.
And you can let that mantra go,
Simply and easefully following your breath as we close this practice with these words to honor winter.
May the wisdom find us while the skies are gray and our bones are chilled.
At that time when the last leaves have fallen,
The land has been cleared and the snow threatens to blanket us.
Let our ancestors whisper to us during the long,
Dark hours of winter's passing,
Sharing what they ache for us to remember.
Let us crave to slumber in Mother Earth's womb and move past the ways of the hurried-up life that we know does not suit us.
For this is the time to rest,
To allow,
And to receive.
And so it is.
